About Compulsive Liars

Mythomania, more commonly known as compulsive lying, is a disorder that affects many Americans every year. Characterized by almost constant lying, the person affected by it can be confusing to deal with. Education about compulsive lying, however, is the key to overcoming the misconceptions surrounding this issue and helping those affected to cope and find relief.

Significance

A true compulsive liar is much like a person suffering from OCD--they feel compelled to tell their lies and may even believe them to be true themselves. Compulsive liars can prove to be a challenge whether in the workplace or in a personal relationship.

Identification

Contrary to popular belief, a compulsive liar is not simply a person who lies a lot. While this can be a sign, there could be a number of other reasons why the person in question is lying. To be considered a compulsive liar, lying should be almost a way of life for this person. They must lie as often as possible, and mix lies in with truths. Another key feature is the type of lies they tell. A compulsive liar lies because they feel they need to.

Effects

The effects on both the person affected by compulsive lying and the people around them are numerous. Soon it becomes impossible to tell what is a lie and what is the truth. Even seemingly easy questions are answered in lies. As time progresses, the compulsive liar begins to lose friends, relationships and jobs as a result of being deemed untrustworthy. Trust is the key building block in any type of relationship, and without it their can be no healthy level reached. They may also suffer from low self-esteem as a result of wanting to quit their lying habits but finding themselves unable to.

Misconceptions

Some common misconceptions about people suffering from this disorder are that the person can stop lying any time. In reality, the person feels compelled to tell the lies they do, and cannot stop. They may not even realize they are lying because it has become so normal for them. It may also be thought that the person is lying for some sort of personal gain, or revenge. But a true compulsive liar tells lies that usually have no effect on them. They get nothing from it but the simply pleasure lying gives them. Finally, it is commonly believed that lying cannot be cured. In reality, however, proper treatment can help compulsive liars, sometimes even curing them.

Prevention/Solution

Compulsive lying is still a relatively confusing disorder that doctors are trying to understand and find a cure for. While some people find relief through therapy or self-help, others may suffer from this condition their entire lives. This doesn't mean that it is incurable. As research continues, more cures will be developed, and many people can already control and overcome their lying with therapy.